Although Morvich had been unbeaten as a 2-year-old of 1921, he became unsound following his Kentucky Derby win at 3, leaving the leadership of the American sophomore division wide open. None of the other colts proved able to beat the others consistently, and the 3-year-old championship was pretty much a matter of opinion between Whiskaway (now considered the champion by consensus of racing historians) and Pillory, who each managed to secure two major wins. While Pillory ran fourth behind the victorious Whiskaway in the Kentucky Special, their only head-to-head meeting, he was the leading money winner in American racing in 1922. He ran unplaced in his only two starts as a 4-year-old and retired to an unsuccessful stud career.

Race record

12starts, 5wins, 1second, 3thirds, US$96,904

1922:

Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9FD, Pimlico)

Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 11FD, Belmont)

2nd Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)

3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)

Assessments

Ranked secondamong American 3-year-old males of 1922 by The Blood-Horse.

As an individual

A chestnut horse; no further information available.

As a stallion

According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Pillorysired 30 winners (31.3%) and 1 stakes winner (1.0%) from 96 named foals.

Connections

Pillory was bred and owned by Richard T. Wilson, who also owned his sire Olambala. He was trained by Thomas J. Healy. Pillory entered stud in 1924. He was eventually sold to the U.S. Army Remount Service and was sent to Nebraska. His last registered foals were born in 1944.

Pedigree notes

Pillory is outcrossed through five generations. His sire Olambala (by the Bend Or horse Ornus) is generally considered to be the American champion older male of 1910. His dam Hester Prynne produced nothing else of importance. She is out of the Horoscope mare Witchcraft, a half sister to stakes winner Suffrage (by Voter). Witchcraft and Suffrage were produced from the Spendthrift mare Queenston, a full sister to three-time American co-champion older male and two-time American champion sire Kingston.

In history, the pillory was a device used for public punishments. It consisted of a frame attached to a post. Offenders' heads and hands were fastened in the frame, leaving them exposed to the abuse of spectators and passers-by.

Pillory had no shot at the Triple Crown in 1922 as the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes were contested on the same day.